Williams supervisors won't advertise ordinance

Board recommended referendum on tax hike for open space.

Williams Township supervisors decided Tuesday night not to advertise a referendum ordinance this month on whether to increase the earned income tax to pay for open space preservation.

The township's Land Preservation Board recommended supervisors ask residents in a referendum during the Nov. 2 election if they favor increasing the tax by .25 percent, which could generate at least $200,000.

"I think it's up to the voters to decide on this," said Supervisor Robert Doerr, who voted for the referendum.

Supervisor Chairman John Cusick and Supervisor Robert Helm want more time to discuss the plan.

Helm said the tax may not be necessary when only three property owners are willing to keep their land undeveloped.

But board Chairman Jerry Steele said five or six more landowners have expressed interest in the open space plan since the Land Preservation Board's meeting last month.

Solicitor Brian Monahan said if the ordinance is not advertised and the referendum issue not decided at the June 8 meeting, the referendum can't appear on the November ballot. The board has a workshop meeting at 4 p.m. on May 25.

"Pull the lever, pull the lever," said Jeff Martinson of Morvale Road. "Let the voters decide what they want."

In other business, the supervisors voted to purchase $33,729 in office furniture for the new 4,000-square-foot municipal building on Cider Press Road.

Officenter Inc. of Elverson, Chester County, will supply the township with tables, desks, cartons, file cabinets and file racks.

Township Manager Debbie Patterson said the file cabinets in the current 2,500-square-foot municipal building are filled.

The new building will be constructed next to the older two-story municipal building, which will be used by community groups and other township organizations.